Avonlea...growing so fast!

Our sweet princess!

Such a ham!

Roasting her 3rd hotdog!

enjoying the Founder's Day parade!

These two (a little neighbor boy) were sharing this sucker!

Homemade rootbeer at the Founder's Day festivities!

                                                                      What a sass!

                                           Couldn't resist the baby in a swimming suit picture!

Love those Cheetos!

And the behind view!

Avvy found this puppy at one of John's races and she LOVED it!

That's a handful of licorice. And no one could have any!!

Most kids refuse to wear anything like this at her age...she refused to let anyone ELSE wear them!

First campout!

Finally...it's Matthew turn!

We have gone from this one week ago...

 

...to this! 

It has been a long week waiting for this day!

Matthew and Spencer have a picture just like this on his first day of third grade.













...and this on Olivia's first day of Kindergarten.

I thought I would have a few tears when I sent this little man to school, after all I cried with Spencer and REALLY cried when I dropped Olivia off for her first day, but Matthew was SOOO ready to start that I was just excited for him (and a bit relieved!). It's hard to think of activities for a kindergartener who has been reading for a year and all he can think about (and ask about) is when his first day will be here.

Have fun Matty! You are going to be great! You have prepared and are so beyond ready for this year. Just remember to enjoy it!












UPDATE: Matthew has found that he LOVES school! We knew he would! He is very well liked and has LOTS of friends- what do you expect from a social butterfly! Although he gets quite bored learning the things he has known for years - like the alphabet. He has had his seat moved three times for being a chatter box. When I asked him why he was talking, he told me he was done with his seat work and helping the other kids! His teacher told him that ALL the kids in the class are smart to which he replied "Yeah, but not as smart as me!" We're working on humility! :)

Our kayaking adventure

Some friends invited us to join them for an afternoon of kayaking on Mantua "lake". I was a bit apprehensive. First of all, what could Mantua possibly offer as far as a lake? Secondly, we have babies that I wouldn't know what to do with while everyone was on the kayaks, and thirdly I knew we would have at least two children who would want to try the kayaks and they had never been near one before, which would only make for a frustrating experience. But we went nonetheless. And I couldn't have been more wrong.

The lake was decent, with few people even on the last Saturday of the school year summer, with an actual shaded sandy beach.

And the kids took to the kayaks like fish to water!! We had a great time!

These two definitely took over the kid kayaks. I think they would have stayed out on the lake all day if we had let them take their dinner out with them!

They couldn't get enough of it! They begged for one more ride, a little more time and debated over who's turn was next.

Even Jacob and Avvy loved it! And because the water was shallow enough, I didn't
worry as much as I thought I might.

Making their dinner on cheetos!

As always, John has to be a clown! Here he is in one of the kid kayaks with his tongue sticking out! So very John!

See that tiny person way out in the lake? That's Olivia, who decided that she wants a kayak for Christmas!

And we need this picture to show off how cute her little chubby legs are!

I learned a great lesson, don't wear a tight running tank with a pair of heavy jean shorts, and sit in a kayak. You end up looking 6 months pregnant even when you are not!!

Jacob loved his "banana tube"!

Even Spencer surprised us. Here is the boy who is terrified of swings, bikes and teeter totters, but LOVED the kayaks! Should have figured so, he loves anything to do with water. I am seriously thinking of spraying him down with a hose while he learns to ride his bike!

All in all it was super fun! And we all left thinking how fun it would be to have kayaks. And since Hyrum lake and Mantua lake are both within ten minutes of our house, what an inexpensive way to spend our summers / date nights! We'll have to see!

Back to School!

Spencer all ready for his first day of 6th grade! He's headed out the door and it's only 7:10! This is going to take some adjusting! (For me, not him. He's happiest in the early morning!)

He's a little bit nervous, change is always difficult. Best wishes Bud! You are going to be amazing! And don't worry, the locker thing will get easier! (And since John took him to school, that is it for the pictures. It's just not cool to have Mom following you around in middle school with a camera. Go figure!)

Olivia all ready for 2nd grade! She insisted on her outfit, despite the fact that it is a uniform! :) We jazzed it up a bit with pink leggings and bright pink socks.

Our sweet neighbor Brigette stays at our house on three mornings a week before school. Our kids LOVE her!

 I can't believe how much she has grown!

 Olivia's personalized back pack. Still not too big for princesses! Phew!

A bit nervous and excited! You'll be great Sweetheart!

As per tradition, the kids each received a father's blessing before school. Even Jacob. Spencer was blessed to make friends and work well with others. Also to have a clear mind and be able to grasp what he was taught and to excel in the areas he is gifted. Olivia was blessed to be kind to others, to learn well and to work hard. She was also given comfort concerning her peanut allergy and that others would help look out for her. I think she was relieved! Matthew was encouraged to work hard and that he would excel in what he knew. That his intelligence and gifts would continue to increase. They were all encouraged to come to us with questions and that we would listen to them and help them as much as we could. They were also blessed to know how much we love each of them. We are so proud of all of you!!